Apparatus for pasteurizing milk



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,874

J. O. TEMPLETON APPARATUS FOR PASTEURIZING MILK Filed Jan. 6,. 1926 v INVENTOR. Jay 0. TEMPLE 101V A TTORNEY.

Patented Nv. 27, 1928;.

UNITED, STATES PATENT mm JOHN 0. TEMPLETON, OF DETRCIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOIB T0 ELECTROPUBE CORPORA- TION,'OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR PASTEUBIZING MILK.

Original application filed March 13, 1925, Serial No. 15,399. Divided and this January 6, 1926.

1 the electro-purifier and cooling coils) that has a resistance to flow of electric current approximately equal to that of the milk or other fluid being treated. By this method of operation of thesystem-for a period of time with fluid whose electrical resistance is equal to milk, the entire system is brought up to the predetermined temperature before the milk is started into the system and consequently does not seed the system with pathogenic micro-v organisms and no milk passes from the system but that which is at the predetermined temperature. y

In apparatus heretofore used in treating milk by electric current, the system is started with milk and the first milk discharged from the system has not all been properl treated and tends to seed the cooling coi s. Such milk, if retained in the receptacles into which the succeeding treated milk is deposited would also contaminate the entire body of the milk treated i A convenient apparatus by which my improved "meth d of treating or' pasteurizing milk may be performed is shown in the accompanying drawing which is an elevation of the apparatus (practically diagrammatic in form) in indicated at 1. This purifiermay be of any of the usual typesin which an electric current is utilized and the milk is passed between electrodes of the circuit. The details ofconstruction of the purifier or pasteurizer are not here shown as it is commonly known in this art.

v2,,indicates a series of cooling coils over which the milk after being treated is dischar ed 'by'the conduitB leading from the 1 puri er.' These cooling coils are supplied with fluid through the conduit 4; by means of which the purifier or pasteurizer is themilk and application fil ed Serial No. 79.632. 1

a pump 5 which may take fluid from eitherthe tank 6 or 7 or any other means of supply. This conduit 4; leads into the bottom of the oils 2 and passes upward'through the several coils to the uppermost coil 8 which leads to the filter 9' and thence to the bottom of the purifier 1. In the apparatus shown, an addi-. tional series of coils 10 are used below the coils 2 in which a refrigerant, as for instance brine from a refrigerating system, may be circulated through the tubes 11 and 12 leading to and from the coils 10. Thus, if it is desired to ch'ill'the milk it is allowed to run down over the coils 10 and into a receptacle 13 and thence through the outlet 14 to a convenient receptacle] If it is not desired to chill the 'milk the pan 15 is positioned between coils 2 and 10 in the cooling apparatus to receive the milk as it passes fromthe coils 2. This receptacle 15 may have a discharge outlet to thereceptacle 13 or to other receptacles as may be -"'found convenient. The details of construction of this cooling coil here illustrated are not important but the feature of heating'the milk to be treated by the heated and treated milk passing from the purifier is useful and eco'nomicaL,

-, t b properly treated should lJQ I raisedin'temperature to about to degrees F., and the electric current is supplied to a circuit (not here shown) which is broken at the two electrodes lti and 17 in dicated diagrammatically in the purifier 1, it being understood that, in the type of purifier here shown, the milk .or other fluid passes upwardly between the electrodes and thus closes the circuit b providing a path for the current which lieats the milk or other fluid to a predetermined temperatureas' indicated for instance by-a thermometer 18 at the upper end of the purifier. This heated fluid passes through the line 3 and over the cooling coils Whichare supplied with cold fluid from the tank 6 01 7 01-; other means of suppl "as is hereinafter described and thus the uid passing to the purifier at the bottom is raised 1 in temperature in passin through the coils 2..

7 Milk has certain electrical conductivity and the passingof the electric current. therethrou h, due to it's electrical'resistance, heats he flow is so regulated by valves 105 that movement a; the -milk or otherwise throu h the pasteurizer is at the proper speed to ena le'it to rise to the predetermined temperature before passing into the "conduit 3* leading into the discharge line 3.

In start-ing a system of this character and a convenient solution to'use for this purpose is a salt solution of Water having approximately .025 salt content. This solution tends to cleanse the various conduits and apparatus dicated at 22.

through which the milk is'to pass previous to introduction of the milk thereinto and enables the operator to bringthe system to its point of efficient operation and predetermined temperature and thereupon the outlet valve 19 of the salt solution tank 6 may be closed and the valve 20 of the milk receptacle 7 opened. The pump then draws the milk from thetank 7 and discharges it into the line 4 and the milk forces the saline solution from the system. By this arrangement naturally the operator can discharge the saline solution passing from the cooling system into the proper receptacle and'as the milk begins to flow out of the line 3 the discharge conduit is opened to or directed into the receptacle in which it is desired to store the milk.

By this method the possibility of seeding the cooling system with bacteria is eliminated and possibility of contamination of the milk is also reduced to a minimum due to the "cleansing edect of the'salt solution used. I have only suggested the use of salt by reason of its beneficial effect, but it is to be understOOd that other solutions as forinstance a solution of Washing soda may be used with equal advantage at least so far as bringing the system toQthe' desired temperature and condi'tion o-f operation. as is required for milk,

the essential features being that the fluid h used shall have an electrical conductivity of approximately equal to that of the milk.

hile'no't essential Iihave shown a temperature controlled system diagrammatically in- This is commonly known by the trade as a control thermometer the opera.- ti'on of which is well known and which may be utilize'djto 'control operation of an" electric motor (anthem shown but preferably direct- 1y eonn'ec'ted with thepump 5) so that, if at any timetli'e temperatureof the milk passing through the purifier ,or pasteurizer 1 'falls in temperature below a predetermined degree, 'for instance 1'55 degrees F.,-for any reativity of which is substantially son, the control thermometer will operate to break the circuit supplying'cuneiit to the motor causing the pump to stopoperation,

and thus cease to pass mllk through the purifier. The electric current-is still on in the purifier and under this condition the milk has a tendency to siphon back through the system untilthe temperature is againraised to about the point at which the motor circuit was broken whereupon the motor again operperature in passing from the'purifier. Therea upon, the valve 19 to the tank 6: isclo'sed and the valve 20 to the milk tank 7 is opened. The

correct functioning of the apparatus indicated depends upon the speed of the pump and the setting of the valve at a certain point-that is, the speed of delivery of the pump which is the head and the frictional resistance being constant, a predetermined temperature will result in setting the valve at a certain point as will be readily understood by those familiar with the art. Therefore, in starting this system with a fluid of any desired character the electrical conducthat of the milk, the valve isset by the ju gment of the operator and the system operated for a period of time and the setting of the valve changed to secure the predetermined temperature of fluid passing from the purifier at which the system is to operate; If milk is to be treated, this predetermined temperature should be 155 to 165 degrees F. When this temperature of the fluid passing from the past-eurizer is attained then the flow of this fluid solution stopped and the milk or other fluid being treated is caused to flow into the system Thus, in the treatment of milk for instance, there-is no milk passing from the ap aratus that is not properly treated or heated to the predetermined -temperature.' There .is thus t ere is no waste of fluid being treated.

Having thus fully described my improved method of treating milk and similar fluids,

what I claim and desire to secure byL-etters Patent of the United States is 1. In apparatus forgfireating milk, a puri' no possibility of seeding of the system,'and

his

fier having a pair of spaced electrodes,"a curcausing the fluid -to pass to the -conduits and rent'supply circuitjtherefor, a'conduit for supplying liquid to the purifier to pass beand a receptacle for liquid having-ap I between electrodes, means controllable at will A for supplying the milk or the liquid of the sameelectrical conductivity to said electricall controlled apparatus, the said conduit lea to the purifier hav' a rtion thereof in t e form of a coil and e 'scharge conduit being arranged to discharge the treated fluid over the said coil, and means for causing cessation of operation of the apparatus when the temperature of the fluid or the milkin passing through the purifier falls below a predetermined temperature.

. In apparatus fortreating milk,

aving a pair of spaced electrodes, an

dischar of liquid therefrom, a receptacle for'rmlE' a receptacle for liquid having approximately the same electrical conductivity as milk, electrically controlled apparatus for causi fluid to pass through the conduits to between; the electrodes, and means controllable at will forsupplyingthe milk or liquid a puri ass between the e ectrodes, a conduit for the I ischar of liquid therefrom, a, receptacle for mi a receptacle for liquid having approximately the same electrical conductivity as'mil-k, electrically controlled apparatus for causing fluid to pass through the conduits to between the electrodes,-means controllable at will fo'r'suppl ingthe milk or liquid of the same electrics conductivity to the electrically controlled apparatus, and means for causing cessation 0 operation of the apparatus when the temperature of the fluid or the milk in passing through the purifier falls below a predetermined temperature.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification; A

JOHN D. TEMPLETON. 

